Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-20
AT THE BAR OF JUSTICE.
Jake Sharp, New York'S Millionaire
Boodler Arraigned For Trial.
Many Distinguished Lawyers Striving
TO Keep Him Out of the Peni-
tentiary.

lonalre boodleman, was placed in the
dock IN Judge Barrett's court TODAY. So
great was the interest in the case-so
keen the curiosity TO see the man who
stands charged with organizing the great
combine, corrsptIng twenty aldermen
| and stealing Broadway-that great
| crowd tried to push their way into SQUIRT
! long before the hour set for beginning
the trial. So great was the crush that
the officers finally decided to admit only
those CONNECTED with the case. Prom pit
~ at IL O'Clock Mr.. Sharp came into
court, accom- panied by his counsel
At ll:l5 District Attorney MARITIME mov-
ed the trial of Jacob Sharp. Mr.. MARITIME
stated that Messrs. Kerr and Richmond
who were indicted with Sharp. had elected
TO be tried separately, and he was pre-
pared to go on with the present case
Lawyers Bird and Dupignac, for the
defense, said that the district attorney
had stated fact, and Clerk Sparks asked
in solemn tone, as hush fell on the
court room:
Jacob Sharp, a1c you ready for trial ?"
Sharp did not move muscle, but look
ed rather puzzled. Lawyer Stickney re-
piled for him. Then the impaneling of
jurors was begun. Only fifty two out of
the panel of 100 were present. Twenty
four talesmen were examined up to re-
cess, but on one ground or another
prior opinion, prejudice against infor-
mers, or lack of intelligence-all were
excused.
As the work of examining Jurors pro-
gressed the defendent looked depressed
and anxious. His face became ashen.
1t Is physiognomy in which cunning
mlngles with grossness, pig guheadedness
with keen sagaclty, and it is stamped all
over with that indescribable mark which
reveals an absence of al scruple. His
dull, plg-llko eyes that light up with
CLEANS of hatred and smartness; his low
forehead, creased and lined like mat;
his british mouth, that always hangs
half open, with its protruding upper jaw,
his chunky cheeks, are all ill-favored. In
terpreted in the light of his conduct they
can but go against him in the minds of
intelligent men. Half the leaders at the
New York bar were sitting on either one
side or the other of the counsel table.
Sharp has sought for attorneys and ad-
yocates who were as conspicuous for the
possession of moral qualities as he is
conspicuous for the lack of them. The
bar of New York contains few men
the city than Albert Stickney, Judge
Fullerton, Senator Homer A. Nelson and
James G.. Carter. These gentlemen have
taken upon themselves the task of keep
ing the boss boodler out of the peniten-
tiary.
The defendant at the bar is under
twenty-one indictments for bribery
The indictments on which he is being
tried accuses him, with several others, of
offering Rudolrh A. Fullgraff, a member
of the common concil, S20,0UO for voting
as the petitioners before the council de
sired. Sharp was the beneficiary of the
Broadway steal. He was the applicant
for the franchise. He received and paid
out the money raised on the bonds of the
company. He was the company, filling
the offices with his tools and dummies.
Before the Senate committee he failed
to account for the expenditure of $500
600 of the amount raised on bonds He
had the impudence to swear that he did
not remember for whom or on what ac-
count he had drawn checks for this large
sum. Three of the aldermen he bribed
are at this moment in the state prison.
One has escaped through insanity, two by
death, and four are fugitives from Justice.
Nine are still under Indictment.
1t is expected that much time will be
consumed in the selection of Jury. Sharp
does not believe there is citizen who is
not prejudiced against him because of
public clamor and newspaper criticism
Every talesman with an opinion will be
challenged, and every one declares he
has no opinion will be subjected to a
long, and severe examination before he
Is accepted. The district attorney, too.
will be cautious of his selections. There
Is so much talk about the Doodle a dis
honest juror might receive from the
wealthy defendant that more than usual
care will be exercised. Sharp's sagacity
ls well displayed in the selection of his
lawyers. His ability to read character
has been one of the great secrets of his
busineLs. He seems iutuitively to know
Just what sort of men he requires for
every emergency. As lobbyist at Al
bany he displayed quite as much wit in
avoiding certain persons as in corralliug
others. He perfectly understands that
the public regards him as an arrant
knave, as vulgar in character as he is un-
scrupulous in method.